The left-handed pitcher most in demand at the winter meetings is not either of the top free agents, C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle.

No, the lefty generating the most attention is the Athletics’ Gio Gonzalez, who is attracting trade interest from nearly a dozen teams, major-league sources say.

The Tigers, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Reds and Phillies are the known suitors for Gonzalez, according to sources.

Other clubs including the Blue Jays, Nationals, Red Sox, Rangers and Rockies also are known to be pursuing starting pitching, and likely have some interest in Gonzalez. The Yankees have had only minimal conversations with the A’s about Gonzalez and are not a factor in the discussions, a source said.

The Phillies, on the other hand, are something of a surprise in the Gonzalez sweepstakes, given the strength of their rotation and high number of prospects they have traded in recent seasons.

But the idea makes sense. The addition of Gonzalez would give the Phils the depth to trade left-hander Cole Hamels — give them or a ready-made replacement if Hamels leaves as a free agent after next season.

The potential suitors for Hamels? See the teams listed above.

Gonzalez, 26, is in his first year of arbitration eligibility and under club control for four more years. Over the past two seasons he is 31-21 with a 3.17 ERA in 402 2/3 innings. However, he did lead the American League with 91 walks last season.

The Athletics are open to moving everyone on their roster but second baseman Jemile Weeks, sources say. Closer Andrew Bailey also is drawing significant trade interest and is perhaps more likely to be dealt than Gonzalez, sources say.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Tigers are "trying to make a strong push" for Athletics' left-hander Gio Gonzalez.
Slusser has confirmed the Tigers' interest via three sources. However, they aren't sure their proposal would be able to match that of the Yankees. Gonzalez, 26, posted a 3.12 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while striking out 197 batters over 202 innings this past season. The southpaw is arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter.

Detroit he's ours!

Detroit literally has nothing to offer Oakland besides maybe Jacob Turner,i'd be shocked as hell if this happens...

Roy Oswalt knows that his next major league contract could very well be his last. With that in mind, the 34-year-old righthhander is looking for a three-year deal, says MLB.com's Bill Ladson.

Pitchers such as Bruce Chen and Chris Capuano already have been given two-year deals this offseason, so Oswalt's request may not be overly optimistic, given his resume. Oswalt may benefit from playing the waiting game and offer his services to a team that falls short on a deal for C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle.

Oswalt now doesn't carry the cost of a draft pick to the signing club, and that could make the difference for a team such as the Washington Nationals, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post wrote last month.

The Boston Red Sox, searching for a closer to replace the departed Jonathan Papelbon, appear to be making a significant pitch to swing a deal for Oakland's Andrew Bailey.

Peter Gammons tweeted Wednesday morning the Athletics are considering an offer from Boston that includes Josh Redd!ck and prospects, but does not involve Jed Lowrie.

Meanwhile, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe says Oakland is seeking prospects such as third baseman Will Middlebrooks, but Boston is hesitant to go that high.

The market for closers is shrinking following the Blue Jays' trade for Sergio Santos, possibly limiting Boston's leverage. The Red Sox could sign free agent Ryan Madson, though he will have to come off his demand for a four-year deal to make that work.

According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, the Padres will acquire Huston Street from the Rockies for a player to be named later.
It appears that the deal is essentially done. The Padres are expected to pick up the remainder of Street's contract, which includes a $7.5 million salary for 2012 and either a $9 million option for 2013 or a $500,000 buyout. The 28-year-old right-hander had a 3.50 ERA over three seasons in Colorado, so he should do quite nicely in the spacious PETCO Park. He could be a nice late pickup among fantasy closers. As for the Rockies, the move gives them some wiggle room to add a free agent and ensures that Rafael Betancourt will be the closer next season.

The Rockies contacted the Braves to express interest in righty Jair Jurrjens, tweets MLB.com's Thomas Harding. With today's Huston Street trade, the Rockies freed up the better part of $8MM to pursue a starting pitcher. MLBTR projects Jurrjens to earn $5.1MM in 2012; the 25-year-old is under team control through 2013 as an arbitration eligible player. Eight to ten teams have shown real interest in Jurrjens this winter, reported Danny Knobler of CBS Sports last night.

The Rockies' unloading of Street is also expected to kickstart their pursuit of free agent reliever Brad Lidge, a Denver-area native, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

“If I had to put my money on anybody to get this guy, it would be the Tigers hands down.” said one rival front office executive.

The Tigers haven’t shied away from big-money deals to players they liked in recent years, inking Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Joaquin Benoit, Jose Valverde, and Justin Verlander all to big contracts in recent seasons. By all accounts the Tigers really like Cespedes.

“They’ve been around him as much or more than any other team,” said a scout in the Dominican Republic. “It seems like every time there are teams there to see him, the Tigers are right there in front.

Rumors are swirling that Cespedes’ camp will be seeking a deal well in excess of the $30 million contract left-hander Aroldis Chapman received from the Reds. Demands of that nature and the uncertainty surrounding Cespedes’ transition to the Major Leagues will push many teams away from a serious pursuit.

As it stands now though, the Tigers appear to be in the center of the race for Cespedes services, with one NL international director stating “The Tigers are going to get that guy. I promise you that.

lets hope and pray
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Report: Tigers could include Jacob Turner in deal to obtain left-hander Gio Gonzalez

DALLAS – The Detroit Tigers are not in the market for free agent left-hander C.J. Wilson. They seemingly have no interest in offering veteran left-hander Mark Buehrle a multi-year contract.

But could they be interested in Oakland A's left-hander Gio Gonzalez? Could they be interested enough to include highly touted prospect Jacob Turner in a deal for Gonzalez?

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported early this morning that the Tigers are making a strong push for Gonzalez with a package that could very well start -- but not end -- with Turner.

Slusser wrote that the Tigers would "probably" be willing to part with Turner in a deal that would require them to send much more than just the talented right-hander to the A's to obtain Gonzalez.

Late Tuesday night, Slusser cited three sources who said the Tigers are interested but said the Tigers are concerned they cannot offer the A's as much for Gonzalez as the New York Yankees can.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the A's are seeking “high-end young outfielders” in return for Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, 26, went 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA for the A's last season. He struck out 197 in 202 innings pitched and was named to the American League All-Star team for the first time in his four-year career. Gonzalez is 38-32 with a 3.93 ERA in four seasons with the A's.

The price to obtain Gonzalez would be extremely high, but his addition would give the Tigers an impressive rotation stocked with talented young pitchers.

Sources tell Andy Martino of the New York Daily News that Albert Pujols is likely heading back to the Cardinals and the Marlins have started to shift their attention towards Prince Fielder.

Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post wrote minutes earlier that the Marlins think they’re still in it and that they “gave it a major best shot.” Still, the pendulum does seem to have swung back the Cardinals way after where it was leaning last night.

There are also mixed messages on whether the Marlins would really pursue Fielder if they miss out on Pujols. Most believe they’d concentrate on pitching instead, with Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson topping their list. Jon Heyman, though, just tweeted that the Marlins will definitely talk to Fielder if they don’t get Pujols.

Jon Heyman reports that Rollins’ return to Philly is likely to happen, but that it’s still being worked on. The contract will probably be for three or four years, perhaps with the fourth year in the form of a vesting option.